swan lake
extending the experience: a teacher's
guide with student activities
lecture demonstration
Richmond Ballet, The State Ballet of Virginia, is dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and continuing
evolution of the art form of ballet. Richmond Ballet strives to keep meaningful works of dance alive and
to produce and foster new works that remain true to these values.
In 1980, Ms. Stoner Winslett became the founding artistic director and continues to lead and manage the
organization today. Richmond Ballet was the first professional ballet company in Virginia and was
designated The State Ballet of Virginia in 1990, by then Governor Wilder.
Richmond Ballet aspires to help transform our world through the unique and special power of dance.
Through the work of Richmond Ballet, this community will continue to move towards one that universally
respects the value of human life, both physical and emotional; the power of cooperation and mutual
respect; the work ethic and discipline required to achieve anything truly meaningful; and the joy of
existing in a compassionate community.
The mission of Richmond Ballet isto awaken and uplift the human spirit,
both for audiences and artists.
The Lecture Demonstration brings the language of dance into schools across Virginia. Our in-school
adaptations of classic ballets provide unique opportunities to see professional dancers up close and
personal. Designed specifically for young audiences, our 45-minute reimagined story ballets provide
students with invaluable opportunities to interact with professional dancers. Complete with music,
a narrator, and a small cast of dancers, our interactive, high-quality performances introduce students
to the language of ballet through a combination of storytelling and dance.
During the 2019-2020 school year, Richmond Ballet will present an adaptation of Swan Lake. Children
will be enchanted by the story of Odette, the beautiful maiden who is transformed into a swan by a
sorcerer, and Odile, her evil counterpart. Incorporating humor and audience engagement, the Jester
narrates this story of magic, mystery, and the power of true love.
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swan Lake summary
story sequencing activity
what animal would you be?
matching activity
origami swans
word search
answer keys
coloring sheet
Extending the Experience: A Teacher’s Guide and the photographs and text contained herein are
the property of Richmond Ballet. All Richmond Ballet production photographs herein by Sarah
Ferguson except where noted. Photocopying of the study guide is permitted. Any other use of the
contents must be accompanied by the phrase, “Text or photographs used with permission from
Richmond Ballet - Richmond, VA.” © Richmond Ballet, 2019.
Swan Lake was originally performed in Moscow in 1877. The score was choreographed by Peter Ilyich
Tchaikovsky at the request of the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre. Swan Lake is inspired by European and
Russian stories of maidens who had been transformed into birds. The ballet evolved over time and
a great deal of alternate endings were choreographed. The roles of Odette and Odile are danced
by the same ballerina.
composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) was a Russian composer. His work was popular among the gen-
eral public for his relatable tunes. His countless compositions include eleven operas and three ballets.
During his lifetime in Russia he was adored, but throughout Europe and the United States his critics
were many. His compositions brought the large-scale qualities of symphony to ballet and changed how
story ballets were composed and choreographed, from grand gesture to
a staged story.
choreographer Nicholas Beriozoff (1906–1996) was born in 1906 in Lithuania. He studied in Czechoslovakia and
danced with the Prague Opera Ballet and the Lithuania National Ballet. He joined the Rene Blum Company
in Monte Carlo in 1935, was with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1938, and became Ballet Master with
Marquis de Cuevas’ Ballet International in 1944. Later he became Ballet Master of Metropolitan Ballet
(England) and of London’s Festival Ballet (1951-54), staging Petrouchka, The Nutcracker, Scheherazade,
Prince Igor, and his own version of Esmerelda. He became the Director of the Zurich Ballet in 1962, and
in 1972 he mounted several Fokine works for the Paris Opera Ballet as a filmed record. In addition to
Swan Lake, he also staged Don Quixote for Richmond Ballet.
What's it all about?
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PrologueThe Shore of a Lake
The young princess Odette is gathering flowers near a lake. Reaching out to pick an exquisite white
blossom, she encounters von Rothbart, an evil sorcerer, who maliciously transforms her into a swan.
ACT I Outside the Castle
Celebrating his 21st birthday with friends, Prince Siegfried is interrupted by his widowed mother, the
reigning Queen, who reminds him that his coming of age is a serious matter. It is time for him to marry
and tend to affairs of state. Although the revelry resumes after his mother leaves, Siegfried is disconsolate
at the thought of his carefree youth slipping away. Noticing a flock of swans flying across the evening
sky, he decides to leave the festivities, hoping to relieve his melancholy mood by hunting the swans.
ACT II The Shore of a Lake
Arriving at the shore of von Rothbart’s lake, Siegfried chances upon a beautiful swan who miraculously
changes into a lovely young maiden right before his eyes. Her name is Odette and she, like her companion
swans, is held captive under von Rothbart’s spell. Allowed to resume human form for only one hour at
midnight, she unhappily explains to the Prince that only the love of a faithful man can break the spell.
Siegfried, already deeply in love with her, promises he is that man and swears to bring her freedom. As
the hour passes, Odette is once more transformed into a swan as von Rothbart, who has been lurking
nearby, carries her away, determined to make the Prince break his vow.
swan lake synopsis
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ACT III The Castle Ballroom
The following evening, six young maidens are presented to Prince Siegfried at his coming-of-age
celebration. To his mother’s annoyance, he refuses all of them. Suddenly, von Rothbart, disguised as a
knight and accompanied by gypsies, appears with his heartless daughter, Odile, who has been transformed
to resemble the lovely Odette. Bewitched and blinded, Siegfried believes Odile to be his swan princess,
and he swears eternal love for her. Gloating in triumph because Siegfried has broken his vow, von
Rothbart reveals Odile’s true nature and leaves the astonished court. Realizing he has been deceived,
Siegfried desperately rushes out of the castle toward the lake, hoping to redeem himself in the eyes of
his beloved Odette.
ACT IV The Shore of a Lake
Now that the Prince has broken his vow, the enchanted swan maidens have given up all hope of freedom
from von Rothbart’s spell. Siegfried arrives searching frantically for the distraught Odette and begs her
forgiveness. The enraged von Rothbart swoops down on the frightened lovers, causing a great storm
over the lake. Filled with power instilled by his great love for Odette, the Prince overcomes the evil
sorcerer. The spell is broken, Odette becomes a princess again – this time forever – and the couple is
united to live happily ever after.
swan lake synopsis continued
Following the Lecture Demonstration of Swan Lake discuss with the class what
happened. There are two story sequencing activity options for differentiation. After
completing this activity, students may read their book to a friend or take it home to share
with their families.
Option 1
Students can make a book using the sentences provided and gluing them onto each story
page. Students will need two pages of the template for the eight sentences.
Option 2
Make multiple copies of the storybook template. Each event, or moment, in the story
should have its own page. Students write the story in their own words. Be sure to include
a blank page for their book cover.
NOTE: Teachers may want to set parameters for the minimum and maximum pages in a
student’s story. Teachers may also want to have students cut out the storybook page
first so that no writing is cut off or cut the page in half so the pages are ready for writing
and no cutting is necessary.
Story Sequencing Activity for primary grades
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A ball is held to celebrate the Prince’s birthday
Siegfried and Odette meet and fall in love
Odette is heartbroken and returns to the lake
True love breaks the curse and Odette is transformed back to a maiden
A sorcerer transforms Odette and her friends into swans
Siegfried goes hunting in the woods
Siegfried is tricked and pledges his love for Odette’s evil counterpart, Odile
Swan Lake, illlustrated by
Cut out the sentence rectangles and glue the sentences onto the story pages. Cut out each story page on the
bolded lines. Put the story pages in order and number your pages. Have your teacher staple your book.
Illustrate the story.
Story Sequencing Activity
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swan lake
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swan lake
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If you could transform into an animal, what would you want to be transformed into?
Draw a picture and write why you chose that animal.
what animal would you be?
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cold
empty
soft
big
apart
day
dark
bottom
high
white
slow
tall
Night
HOT
full
light
black
short
hard
small
together
low
top
fast
Odette and Odile are opposites; can you match up these opposites? The first one is done for you!
matching Activity
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origami swan Activity
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1. 2.
3.
4. 5.
7. 8. 9.
Fold in half diagonally.
Fold the top point of the triangle down to the bottom.
Flip over and fold the 2 sides to the center line again.
Fold the neck of the swan up and bend it however you would like!
Reopen and fold the 2 corners to the center line.
Fold the swan in half to create the body.
origami swan Activity
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princequeen
cygnetscastle
siegfriedodile
odettemarriage
enchantedlake
rothbartlove
royalswancurse ball
word search
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cold
empty
soft
big
apart
day
dark
bottom
high
white
slow
tall
Night
HOT
full
light
black
short
hard
small
together
low
top
fast
matching Activity key
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word search key
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princequeen
cygnetscastle
siegfriedodile
odettemarriage
enchantedlake
rothbartlove
royalswancurse ball
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Richmond Ballet believes that a performance is a gift to the audience. Often when we receive a gift we write a thank you note. Our dancers, choreographers, designers and production staff have been rehearsing and working hard to make sure today’s performance was just right.Tell us what you liked best. Who was your favorite character? Have you ever been to a ballet performance? Use the thought bubbles below to brainstorm some ideas.
What did you like about seeing
Richmond Ballet?
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